Screaming Eagles – Stand Up and be Counted

Screaming Eagles, sometimes abbreviated to Screagles, a Rock ‘n’ Roll band from Northern Ireland release their second album Stand Up and be Counted via Off Yer Rocka Recordings on 13th July 2015. A phoenix arising from the ashes of Soundstone the Screaming Eagles formed in 2010. (Read more about their history and how they chose name in our interview with guitarist Adrian McAleenan here)  Début album From The Flames received critical acclaim getting 10/10 (which equates to 5*) from PlanetMosh see here. Their renowned live performances have seen them play on the same billing as bands such as Airbourne, UFO and Black Star Riders. Stand Up and be Counted was recorded earlier this year in Northern Ireland with a seven track EP Save Me which included bonus material recorded at Hard Rock Hell two years ago and a guest appearance from Pontus Snibb, Bonafide’s front-man, on ‘Good Times‘ a cover of a song by the Australian song writing duo Vanda & Young and I did pick up an Oz rock influence in a song or two!

I first came across Screagles when I saw them supporting The Quireboys at one of their thirtieth anniversary shows at The Half Moon, Putney last year. I could kick myself for not buying From The Flames back then but I didn’t, nor have I listened to it, so I can’t say how Stand Up and be Counted compares. On first listen I was reminded of AC/DC, particularly the music on their latest album Rock or Bust I also picked up a few other similarities/influences along the way. Opening track Ready for the Fall was like a cross between Rose Tattoo and Roxx Gang say Remedy meets Scratch My Back and I got the Roxx Gang similarity in title track  Stand Up and be Counted too but this time they meet a Miss Adventure with AC/DC!

The opening to Save Me is an air raid siren and whenever I hear that opening I always think of Towers of London’s I’m A Rat, Towers get a lot of mixed press, you either love them or hate them, no in-betweens. Me? I love them! The Rev’s an awesome guitarist and whilst Save Me is much more funky than punky Adrian is a pretty mean fret man too! Bow Down To The Blues is indeed a bluesy number and reminded me of another band I’ve seen supporting The Quireboys and that’s Vargas Blues Band. I don’t have any of their albums so am only going off what I remember of their live set and a few You Tube clips see here.

Chase You Down had a flavour of Come Together by The Beatles, think of it done funk style! Get Out While I’m Ahead reminded me of yet another band I first saw supporting The Quireboys and that’s Bonafide, and they’re another band often compared favourably to AC/DC.  Breakin’ All The Rules with it’s country vibe, showcases Chris’s powerful vocals, Streets of Gold with a strong bass line, think T-Rex, was Adrian’s chance to show off some tremulous riffage. Penultimate track the biographical Screaming Eagles has got to be my highlight track, with it’s pounding rhythm and screaming riffs. The last track 27 Club was a bit mellower with an AC/DC Rock or Bust style intro which, kind of, fits in with the subject, but it was Rock AND Bust for the many promising musicians who have died at the tender age of 27, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Kobain to name but a few and hence the term 27 Club and the song includes the lyrics ‘Living life in the fast lane’ ‘Then you bowed out in a hurricane’ it definitely isn’t bust for the Screaming Eagles and Stand Up and be Counted.

Stand Up and be Counted for what you are about to receive, a line from AC/DC classic For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). Got to salute Screagles for this second album. A lot of rock, a bit of blues, a bit of country, plenty to maintain your interest throughout the album so stand up, count out your pennies and get this ordered today!

Track List:

Ready for the Fall
Save Me
Stand up and Be Counted
Bow Down to the Blues
Chase You Down
Get out While I’m Ahead
Breakin’ All the Rules
Streets of Gold
Screaming Eagles
27 Club

Band Members:

Chris Fry – Vocals
Adrian McAleenan – Guitars
Ryan Lilly – Bass
Kyle Cruikshank – Drums

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/screamingeaglesrock

Twitter: https://twitter.com/screagle83

PlanetMosh Interview with Chris Fry: http://planetmosh.com/screaming-eagles-interview-with-chris-fry-july-2015/